Immigration Advocates Network to Receive Award for Excellence in E-Lawyering at ABA TECHSHOW

CHICAGO - March 27, 2014 - PRLog -- Chicago, IL. (March 27, 2014) – The Immigration Advocates Network (IAN), the product of an eight year collaboration between Pro Bono Net and the nation’s leading immigrants’ rights organizations, will receive the James I. Keane Award for Excellence in eLawyering from the American Bar Association eLawyering Task Force. IAN is being recognized for its exemplary work in using technology to broaden access to justice and reduce barriers faced by vulnerable communities.

During the last decade, the foreign-born population of the U.S. grew significantly, with many immigrants settling in areas with few nonprofit legal providers, often operating without meaningful access to training, mentoring, and technical assistance. IAN promotes more effective and efficient communication and collaboration among immigration advocates and organizations by providing free, easily accessible, and comprehensive online resources and tools to more than 6,000 members.

Last year, IAN partnered with the American Immigration Lawyers Association, American Immigration Council, Pro Bono Net and Mobisoft Infotech to develop a popular mobile app (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pocket-daca/id681769792?mt=8), Pocket DACA, which offers potential beneficiaries of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program an eligibility screening tool, a legal help finder, polls and FAQs. IAN has also spearheaded the development of two innovative websites: Own the Dream (http://www.weownthedream.org/), which provides free online DACA legal screenings and application support, and CitizenshipWorks (http://www.citizenshipworks.org/), which helps lawful permanent residents understand and apply for U.S. citizenship. In 2012, CitizenshipWorks won the Webby Award and the Webby People’s Choice Award for Best Law Site.

“IAN delivers innovative, high-impact solutions that address the legal needs of low-income immigrants and build the capacity of organizations serving them,” said Mark O’Brien, Pro Bono Net Executive Director. “Their knowledge of design, law, and technology and their ability to forge strong collaborations has helped organizations address the rising need amidst decreasing resources.”

The award will be presented on Thursday, March 27^th, at the ABA TECHSHOW in Chicago. Matthew Burnett, Director of Immigration Advocates Network, will accept the award.

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About Immigration Advocates Network

Immigration Advocates Network (IAN) is a collaborative effort of leading immigrants’ rights organizations designed to increase access to justice for low-income immigrants and improve access to training, resources and technical assistance for the organizations that serve them. IAN’s partners include the ACLU Immigrants' Rights Project, American Bar Association Commission on Immigration, American Immigration Council, American Immigration Lawyers Association, ASISTA, Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Immigrant Legal Resource Center, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, National Immigration Law Center, National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild, Pro Bono Net, and the Advocates for Human Rights.

About Pro Bono Net

Pro Bono Net is a national non-profit organization dedicated to increasing access to justice for the disadvantaged.  Through innovative technology solutions and expertise in building and mobilizing justice networks, Pro Bono Net transforms the way legal help reaches the underserved.  Our comprehensive programs, including www.probono.net, www.lawhelp.org and www.lawhelpinteractive.org, enable legal advocates to make a stronger impact, increase volunteer participation, and empower the public with resources and self-help tools to improve their lives.  For more information, please visit www.probono.net.